title: Hearing screening in Jamaica: prevalence of otitis media with effusion.
abstract: Hearing screening is well established in most developed countries, and the data extensively published. However, little information has been presented by the developing, nonwhite populations. A screening study was carried out on 2202 Jamaican children aged 5 to 7 years. This involved tympanometry and pure-tone audiometry (frequencies of 0.5, 1, and 2 kHz.) Failure was considered to have occurred if a type B or C curve was obtained or if the threshold of hearing was greater than 20 dB. These children were further evaluated by a full ear, nose, and throat examination, inclusive of pneumatic otoscopy, and audiologic testing. The prevalence of hearing impairment was 4.9%. Otitis media with effusion (OME) was present in 1.9%. The prevalence of OME in Jamaica is low when compared with that of the same age-group in the developed countries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lyn
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Jadusingh
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ashman
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abramson
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Soutar
mesh_terms: D000158:Acoustic Impedance Tests; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007563:Jamaica / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D015995:Prevalence